YMCA of Norwalk, Wilton Family Y sign management services agreement

Published 4:07 pm, Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Norwalk YMCA is reportedly closing and selling its West Avenue property to Norwalk Hospital. Hour photo / Erik Trautmann

The Norwalk YMCA is reportedly closing and selling its West Avenue property to Norwalk Hospital. Hour photo / Erik Trautmann

Photo: (C)2012, The Hour Newspapers, all rights reserved

YMCA of Norwalk, Wilton Family Y sign management services agreement

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NORWALK -- The Wilton Family Y soon will take the helm of the YMCA of Norwalk.

The organizations have signed a two-year Management Services Agreement under which the Wilton Family Y will provide senior management services "for the oversight of the current programs and the evaluation of new opportunities" at the YMCA of Norwalk, according to a press statement released by Wilton Family Y Executive Director Robert C. McDowell.

"Even though these are different communities, the Wilton Y has senior managers who are very good at writing grants, developing programs and building teams that are strategic assets for any organization," McDowell said in a statement Tuesday. "We are excited that we can work alongside the competent existing childcare and day camp staff and apply these skills to our neighboring community in Norwalk to help expand their services and program in innovative ways."

The signing of the Management Services Agreement is not a merger of the two organizations. The arrangement will entail new responsibility for current Wilton Family Y employees, but no new employees. The YMCA of Norwalk, meanwhile, will retain its board or directors and not become part of the Wilton Family Y, according to McDowell.

The agreement will leave the Wilton Family Y managing what remains of the YMCA of Norwalk.

In December, YMCA of Norwalk closed its doors, swimming pool and other facilities at 370 West Ave. The Norwalk organization has maintained its childcare operations at 394 West Ave. and at local schools.

"Last December we announced the closing of our building," said Carl Cook, YMCA of Norwalk board chairman, in the statement Tuesday. "But what many Norwalk residents may not know is that we still offer a number of important programs for the community. This agreement will give us valuable expertise that will help us begin to set a new course for the future."

The details of that new course have yet to be worked out, according to officials.

McDowell told The Hour that the Wilton Family Y intends to do what it can "to maintain and grow the programs at the YMCA of Norwalk." That will begin with examining the needs at the YMCA of Norwalk.

"We're going to be strategic about what we bring to the community and the Norwalk Y," McDowell said. "The staff of the Wilton Y will be working alongside the staff of the Norwalk Y."

The YMCA of Norwalk continues to run a summer day camp at Silvermine Elementary School. About 50 children are expected to be enrolled in the camp this summer. The Norwalk organization also operates before- and after-school programs in various Norwalk schools. About 140 children are expected to be enrolled in fall day-care programs, according to McDowell.